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"22" is the sixth track from American singer and songwriter Taylor Swift's fourth studio album, Red, released on October 22, 2012, through Big Machine Records. The song became the fourth single from the album on March 12, 2013. It is also the sixth track from her second re-recorded album, Red (Taylor's Version), released on November 12, 2021, through Republic Records.

Background[]

After writing Speak Now (2010) entirely solo, she opted to collaborate with different songwriters and producers for Red. Thus, she called Max Martin and Shellback, two songwriters and producers whose work she admired, to discuss a possible collaboration. She told Billboard Magazine: "For me, being 22 has been my favorite year of my life. I like all the possibilities of how you're still learning, but you know enough. You still know nothing, but you know that you know nothing. You're old enough to start planning your life, but you're young enough to know there are so many unanswered questions. That brings about a carefree feeling that is sort of based on indecision and fear and a the same time letting loose. Being 22 has taught me so much."[1]

Critical reception[]

The song has received generally positive reviews from music critics, who complimented Swift's new dynamic pop sound. Idolator gave the song a very positive review, saying that 22 is a thunderous pop track, kicking off with a twangy acoustic guitar riff before a propulsive beat that evokes Katy Perryā€˜s Teenage Dream drops to make way for verses that are cute and likably bratty".[2]

Meanwhile, Billboard also has praises for the song saying that it is "Swift's most blatantly pop song off her career", adding "22" is all about trying to "forget about the deadlines" and embrace only the most sugary hooks available. Underneath the heel-clicking positivity and shiny production sits the line "We're happy, free, confused and lonely in the best way," a rather stunning meditation on being in your early 20s that's flicked off like a piece of pre-chorus lint. Even when she's having fun, Swift is succinctly communicating conflicting emotion. [3]

Furthermore, Joella Estrada of the Philippines praised her ability to capture one's attention with her dynamic voice. Amy Sciaretto of PopCrush also gave it a positive review, saying that the song starts out with an acoustic guitar but quickly escalates into a fun anthem for sleepover parties. There is some requisite twang, which again might appeal to her country base, but this sounds penned for the teens when she sings about being ā€œhappy, free, confused and lonely at the same timeā€. It has the same cadence and energy as the lead single "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" and some Avril Lavigne-style sass. There is a self-referential sound bite and a clip of the phone ringing.[4]

Chart performance[]

The week her album Red was released, all of the songs charted in different countries due to its strong digital sale downloads. With this, the song debuted at number 44 on Billboard Hot 100, at number 29 on the Canadian Hot 100 and number 129 on the UK Singles Chart.

Charts[]

Chart (2012) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) 29 ā€‹
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company) 129 ā€‹
US Billboard Hot 100 20 ā€‹

Music video[]

The music video revolves around a group of friends having fun, enjoying being 22.

Behind the scenes[]

The_Making_of_''22''

The Making of ''22''

Hidden message[]

Hidden message: Ashley Dianna Claire Selena.

Lyrics[]

[Verse 1]
It feels like a perfect night
To dress up like hipsters
And make fun of our exes
Uh-uh, uh-uh
It feels like a perfect night
For breakfast at midnight
To fall in love with strangers
Uh-uh, uh-uh

[Pre-Chorus]
Yeah
We're happy, free, confused
And lonely at the same time
It's miserable and magical, oh-yeah
Tonight's the night when we forget about the deadlines
It's time, oh-oh

[Chorus]
I don't know about you
But I'm feeling twenty-two
Everything will be alright if
You keep me next to you
You don't know about me
But I'll bet you want to
Everything will be alright if
We just keep dancing like we're
Twenty-two, twenty-two

[Verse 2]
It seems like one of those nights
This place is too crowded
Too many cool kids
Uh-uh, uh-uh (Who's Taylor Swift, anyway? Ew)
It seems like one of those nights
We ditch the whole scene
And end up dreamin'
Instead of sleeping

[Pre-Chorus]
Yeah
We're happy, free, confused
And lonely in the best way
It's miserable and magical, oh-yeah
Tonight's the night when we forget about the heartbreaks
It's time, oh-oh

[Chorus]
(Hey!) I don't know about you
But I'm feeling twenty-two
Everything will be alright if (Ooh)
You keep me next to you
You don't know about me
But I'll bet you want to
Everything will be alright if (Alright)
We just keep dancing like we're
Twenty-two (Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh)
Twenty-two (I don't know about you)
Twenty-two, twenty-two (Ooh)

[Bridge]
It feels like one of those nights
We ditch the whole scene
It feels like one of those nights
We won't be sleepin'
It feels like one of those nights
You look like bad news
I gotta have you
I gotta have you (You)
Woah, ooh, yeah, eh-yeah

[Chorus]
(Hey!) I don't know about you (I don't know about you)
But I'm feeling twenty-two
Everything will be alright if (Ooh)
You keep me next to you
You don't know about me (You don't know about me)
But I'll bet you want to
Everything will be alright if
We just keep dancing like we're (Dancing like we're twenty-two)
Twenty-two (Woah-oh), twenty-two (Dancing like)
Twenty-two (Yeah, yeah), twenty-two (Yeah, yeah, yeah)

[Outro]
It feels like one of those nights (Twenty-two)
We ditch the whole scene
It feels like one of those nights (Twenty-two)
We won't be sleeping
It feels like one of those nights (Twenty-two)
You look like bad news
I gotta have you
I gotta have you

Lyric video[]

Taymoji pack[]

Expand/collapse gallery

Awards and nominations[]

ā€22ā€ received three awards from four nominations.

Year Organization Award Result
2013 Neox Fan Awards Best Song of the Year Nominated
2015 BMI Pop Awards Award-Winning Songs Won
Publisher of the Year Won
YinYueTai V Chart Awards Best Music Video of the Year Won

References[]

RED
"State of Grace" ā€¢ "Red" ā€¢ "Treacherous" ā€¢ "I Knew You Were Trouble" ā€¢ "All Too Well" ā€¢ "22" ā€¢ "I Almost Do" ā€¢ "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" ā€¢ "Stay Stay Stay" ā€¢ "The Last Time" ā€¢ "Holy Ground" ā€¢ "Sad Beautiful Tragic" ā€¢ "The Lucky One" ā€¢ "Everything Has Changed" ā€¢ "Starlight" ā€¢ "Begin Again"
Deluxe Edition
"The Moment I Knew" ā€¢ "Come Back...Be Here" ā€¢ "Girl at Home" ā€¢ "Treacherous" (demo) ā€¢ "Red" (demo) ā€¢
"State of Grace" (acoustic)
Taylor's Version
"Ronan" ā€¢ "Better Man" ā€¢ "Nothing New" ā€¢ "Babe" ā€¢ "Message in a Bottle" ā€¢ "I Bet You Think About Me" ā€¢ "Forever Winter" ā€¢ "Run" ā€¢ "The Very First Night" ā€¢ "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)"
The More Red (Taylor's Version) Chapter
"Safe & Sound" ā€¢ "Eyes Open"
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